The target set by the Compact is the transformation of 50,000 seats in failing public schools through school closings and charter conversions. Nutter outlined the ethos:

“Reform, restructure, replace. That’s where we are. That’s where we’re going in public education in Philadelphia.

“It’s time to end any notion of contention between the district and the charter-school communities. This is our chance, this is our opportunity, and we need to grab it.

“We can use the Great Schools Compact to begin a new chapter in our city schools.”

Nutter, along with the School Reform Commission Chairman Pedro Ramos, SRC member Wendell Pritchett, and others are now examining schools around Denver learning about the challenges and successes that city has had since it adopted its compact a year ago.

It is believed that the group will decide on Denver as a model as it consists of a mix of traditional district and charter schools.

Denver “is not perfect, but learning some lessons,” Ramos said.

Ramos said officials had not abandoned the idea of district-run turnaround schools, despite reform through charter conversion being seemingly more popular.

District officials recently closed the central office that oversaw its Promise Academies, shifting responsibilities for the schools to other places – which saw the end of Saturday school, cut an hour’s instructional time one day a week, and made other trims.